PHNOM PENH, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Malaysia on Thursday pledged to strengthen military relations and cooperation in the framework of the same member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Speaking during a meeting with Cambodian Minister of Defense Tea Banh, the visiting Malaysian Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his visit to Cambodia was to seek Cambodia’s support for Malaysian initiative to establish military industry in ASEAN in order to produce its own military equipment.
He also promised to accept more Cambodian military personnel to train in Malaysia.
At the mean time, Ahmad Zahid expressed support to the order of the International Court of Justice on July 18 asking Cambodia and Thailand to immediately withdraw their military personnel currently present in the provisional demilitarized zone around the area of Preah Vihear temple and also ordered both parties to continue cooperating within ASEAN and allow appointed observers access to the provisional demilitarized zone.
“The ICJ’s order has signaled a good sign of peace for Cambodia and Thailand on border conflict next to the Preah Vihear temple,” he said. “It also brings peace to the whole region.”
In response, Tea Banh said Cambodia fully supported Malaysian initiative for military industry and thanked Malaysia for constant assistance to Cambodian defense sector.
Later in the day, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had also paid a courtesy call on Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Ahmad Zahid said during the visit, he had brought 10,200 copies of the holy Quran and 1,000 prayer mats to distribute to the Muslim community in Cambodia.
He arrived in Cambodia Wednesday for a three-day official visit to the country.
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